Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-25
DAILY HERALD.
''CORRAL HOLLOW"
Joaquin Murrietta's Cal
ifOrnia Home.
THE CAVE IN WHICH HE LIVED.
How He Murdered and Plundered
and Burned Whole Families
at the Stake.

Many pamphlets and innumerable
columns in newspapers have been
written concerning Joaquin Murrietta,
the California bandit of early days,
but description of his home in San
Joaquin county, which section bears
his name, has never been made.
From Tracy, small railroad station
shout twenty miles below Stock
ton, extends road which runs in a
southerly direction. Seven long and
weary miles Of road, extending over a
barren waste of deserted country have
to be trayersed before Corral Hollow,
one of the most picturesque spots in
the State, is reached. Its entrance is
marked by cluster of cottonv ood
trees hanging over the mountain
stream which flows down the cafion
from the Coast range OF noun
tains, its source, about ten
miles distant. At its entrance COM
mences a chain of foothills, which
extend to the mountains, and add
beauty and grandeur to the scene. A
road winds along the cai1on for about
a half a mile, where stands the hand
some residence of Mrs. Annie Carrell,
one OF the oldest residents of the To-
cality. Her house stands back from
the road beneath cluster of trees,
and sheds kind of inviting look to
the weary and foot sore traveller.
"Her house is known to all the
yagrant train" possibly on account
uf its being the only residence in the
cafion. In early days, it was seldom
that pedestrian passed by. The prin-
cipal travellers were OK and mule
teams, which were engaged in haul
ing provisions to the foot of the Liver
more pass about twenty miles dis
tant, where were located a
number of gold and coal mines
one of which was owned by William
T. Coleman. As you pass up the
cation travelling along we'll worn
road extending parallel with and often
times crossing the stream, you finally,
about five miles distant, stand in full
view OF Castle Rock, which stands on
n hill on the eastern side of the road,
commanding full view of the sur
rounding country. AS its name would
suggest, it resembles very much the
appearance of a castle. 1t is simply
n huge body of red rock formed by
nature in its present shape, being
topped with numerous turrets on tow
ers moulded very evenly, and extend
ing upwards to quite height. There
are apertures in the front which re-
semble very much the gun-holes in a
fort, and in the middle turret there is
an opening which looks like clock
tower. A circuitous route has to be
taken extending around the back
OF the hill before the castle"
is gained. The writer, like many hun
dreds before him in search of the
same object, first visited the rear part
of the castle as seen from below
There sight, seldom before wit
messed, presented itself to view.
There WAS an opening in the high
body Of rock, and on either side en-
graved in the soft stone stood out like
letters of gold, autographs of every
size and description. Many OF the
signatures were very legibly written
and were put there in many cases by
men OF prominence who visited the
scene. One signature in particular
attracted the eye of the writer, for he
had often seen it before. 1t proved to
be that of U. S. Grant, who visited
Castle Rock on the occasion of his
last visit to this State in 1879. A short
distance from it, scrolled in a clear,
firm hand, stands out the signature of
joaquin Murrietta." The guide was
asked where his cave was and the
visitor was shown a protrusion in a
huge bank of rock about hundred
yards distant and directly back of where
he was standing. A small narrow
overhanging path, which looked as
though it had been formed as a mule
trail led to the spot and without any
further ceremony start was made
for the cave. Arriving at the place
a square sloped bank of rock present
ed itself to view. There was an OPEN
ing in the center at the top of which
was circular hole from the opening
of which the horrible hoot of the
night owl might be heard casting a
rather dismal appearance over the
scene. A trunk of a tree leaned against
the bank OF the rock and extended up
to the opening. The guide lighted a
lantern which he had provided him
self with for the occasion, and with
the agility of a squirrel climbed up
the wavering timber. The writer hes
tated for some moments before he
LINED his companion but as
he saw him disappear from
view through the opening he
took courage and followed. AS he
entered curious sight met his view.
He was in genuine cave, about 20
feet in diameter, with a ceiling about
6h feet in hight. 1t was very rough,
as from the sides and ceiling huge
pieces of rock extended. The floor
was very dirty, and on the different
pieces Of rock extending out were
perched a number of owls, who stood
hooting and blinking as the strong
light from the lantern cast its rays
upon them. In one corner turkey
blzzard sat upon nest of eggs, ap-
parently in mortal terror lest she
would be disturbed. On one side of
the cave in the room two distinct
hunks were chiseled out of the stone,
resembling very much the hunks
aboard steamer. On the side of each
bunk hole was dug in the wall as if
for shelves to set a lamp on. In one
corner stood an old dilapidated cooking
stove, such as was used years ago
in sheep camps. Beside it was placed
an old rickety table, which looked as
though it had seen many years OF ac-
tive service. The name of "Jacquin
Murrietta" was cut in the table. No
property was seen lying around, but
the guide stated that every thing OF
value had been removed by the large
number of people who have visited
the cave during the past quarter OF a
century. On leaving the guide told